Knotter for twine balers



' R. H. coLLlNs Dec. 3, 1957 v 2,815,234

xNo'r'rER FOR 'mms BALERs Filed Feb. 24, 1954 4 sheets-sheet 1 /NL/ENTDFRHxcoLmNs BVMW.

/47 TTUFNE Dec- 3 1957 R. H. COLLINS KNOTTER FQR TWINE BALERS Filed Feb.24, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 F mm ,m

/4 TTD/PNE- V Dec. 3, 1957 R. H. COLLINS 2,815,234

KNOTTER .FOR TwmE BALERS F'iled Feb. 24. 1954 Y 4 sheets-sheet sydTTDF/vex/ R. H. COLLINS Dec. 3, 1957 KNOTTER FOR 'MINE BALERS 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed *Feb 24. 1954 /N/E/v TDF R.H.COLLINS ,4 TTDF/VEWUnited States Patent KNOTTER FR T WINE BALERS Robert H. Collins,Brownsville, Greg.

Application February 24, 1954, Serial No. 412,268

8 Claims. (Cl. 289-14) This invention relates generally to binders andparticularly to an improved knotter for twine balers.

The main object of this invention is to provide a binder which willsatisfactorily handle large sizes of twine such as are used as asubstitute for wire in baling hay and straw.

The second object is to encourage the use of twine binders for balinghay and straw instead of wire, which is dangerous to stock, especiallyif run through a chopper.

The third object is to so modify the twine holder to ladapt it to usewith large sizes of twine without injury to the twine,

The fourth object is to provide a twine guard to prevent the splittingof the twine as disk 15 is revolved with the twine under high tension asis required with twine baling.

The fifth object is to make it possible to compete with wire baling asto cost of baling, the amount of hay held within a bale of given size,and at the same time avoiding the use of steel, which is often requiredfor other purposes. In addition thereto, the serious objection to wirebaling as being injurious to cattle is overcome las the twine ties arecut into safe lengths by the chopper.

I accomplish these and other objects in the manner set forth in thefollowing specification as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich Fig. 1 is a diagrammatical sectional view, showing the essentialelements showing the iirst step in the making of va bale.

Fig. 2 is similar to Fig. 1, showing the bale completed and the needlein a raised position.

Fig. 3 is similar to Fig. 2, showing the knot tied and the needlereturning to the position of rest and the plunger returning for a newcharge of hay.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along the line 4--4 inFig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective of the knotter head.

Fig. 6 is ian enlarged section taken along the line 6-6 in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged developed section along the center line 7-7 inFig. 13.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged section taken along the line 8-8 in Fig. 12.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged section taken along the line 9-9 in Fig. 12.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of the twine guard.

13 is a section taken along the line 13-13 in Fig. 16 is similar to Fig.15 except that the knotting is complete except for stripping andcutting.

Fig. 17 is similar to Fig. 16 except that further rotation has broughtthe disk 39 to rest with the maximum pressure on the twine.

Fig. 18 is an enlarged perspective view of the stripper plate and cutterknife.

Fig. 19 is a perspective view in reduced scale of the completed bale.

Referring in detail to the drawings, there is shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3a somewhat diagrammatic layout of four of the possible positions of thebasic elements in the baler comprised of a pair of side frames 20, whichsupport a chamber floor plate 21. A twine box 22 is shown on the plate21 `and a heavy twine 23 from the box 22 passes over the sheaves 24, 25and 26. A weighted pulley 27 rides on the twine 23 between the -sheaves25 and 26. This is merely a tension device. The twine 23 then passesaround the pulleys 2S and 29, between which is placed Ka frictiontension brake 36.

In the floor plate 21 are formed the slots 31, through which can passthe needle arms 32 which are mounted on a common shaft 33 and isoperated by a crank (not shown).

On the floor plate 21 rides the plunger 34 having slots 35 formedtherethrough in the planes of said needles 32. Means (not shown) areprovided for reciprocating the plunger 34 through a piston 36.

In Fig. 1 the needle yarm 32 is shown in the down, or retracted,position below the level of the plate 21. .The twine 23 passes from thepulley 29 through the needle 32 and out of its point 37 to the diskassembly 33. The disk assembly includes the disk 39, which is a part ofthe shaft 40. To the disk 39 is secured the disk flange 41 by means ofthe rivets 42. In the groove 43 formed between the parts 39 and 41 is atwine holder 44 having a hole 45 at one end for a pivot screw 46 bymeans of which it is attached to the knotter assembly frame 47.

The disk 39 has formed around its circumference a rim 48, on the innerside of which is formed a narrow groove 49 in which can ride the arcuateend 50 of the twine guard 51, which is fastened to the frame 47 by meansof screws 51-A. This is one of the distinguishing features of myinvention.

yIn the outer portion of the disk 39 are the pockets or notches 52. Theilange 4l has corresponding pockets or notches 53.

A pinion 54 is secured on the shaft 4t) and meshes with the worm 55 onthe shaft 56 on whose upper end is secured a pinion 57 which meshes withthe intermittent gear 58 on the shaft 59 which journals in the 'bearing60 which is part of the knotter frame 47.

The -shaft 59 is driven in the manner usual in knotting devices of thistype.

The twine holder 44 is formed with a slot 61 Valong one edge thereof.The edge 62 is arcuate in shape on a single radius, whereas one-half ofthe edge 63 is arcuate to conform to the edge 62 while the remainder 64of the edge 63 is at a somewhat larger radius in order to permitslippage of the twine while the knot is being tied.

Attention is drawn to Fig. 7, which is a development of the disk circle.It will be noted in this figure that the lobes 65 between the pockets 52and 53 are rounded along their edges as illustrated, the purpose ofwhich is to prevent undue wear and breakage of `the twine.

The positions of the twine 23 at the various pockets, or stations, 52and 53 are indicated. These are ve in number.

Opposite the twine holder 44 and occupying space between the disk 39 andange 41 is the arcuate face 66 of the twine disk cleaner 67 whose end 68is recessed to conform somewhat to the trailing end of the pockets 53 3(FigflS). On the cleaner 67 is formed a shank 69 which occupies a slot70 in the frame 47. Secured to the frame 47 by means of a screw 71 is aleaf spring 72 which bears against the ear 73 on the twine holder 44.

In Fig. 18 is shown a portion of the end of the twine knife ,arm 74mounted en the pivot 75 and said arm 74 has on its end a cam rollerwhich engages a cam, neither of which are shown as they are common teall knotters The cam is formed on the hub 76 and merely sweeps past theroller end of the arm 74.

Secured te the arm 74 is a stripper plate 77 having an arcuate notch 78formed in its end which ts snugly against the back 79 o-f the knetterbill hoek 80, while the sides 81 extend along the sides of the hook 80and serve te better remove the knot therefrom. The knetter bill hoek 80is driven by a pinion which meshes with the segment gear 83.

The finger 84 is pivotally mounted on the hook 30 and has on the endthereof a roller 35 which engages the cam surface S6 formed en the frame47.

A spring loaded knetter hoek cam 57 urges the finger 84 toward a twineholding position and pulls the loep through the knot being formed.

The knetter operation is well understood by these familiar with the artand is referred to here only to ferm a basis for the explanation of theimprovement. It will be understood that the principles set forth hereinapply to the tying of a three-string bale S8 as it would on. atwo-string bale.

The position of the cutoff blade 89 on the arm 74 is also indicated.

The rst point of improvement lies in the tripling in thickness of thedisk 39, making it possible te provide an easy turning radius for theface 90 as compared with the abrupt angular faces en the disks used onother types of twin-e knetters new in use. it will be noted that thecorners 91, 92 and 93 are also rounded to reduce injury to twine as itpasses through the knetter.

Attention is drawn to Fig. 9 in which is shown the improved ferm oftwine guard 51 which rides in the groove 49 and makes it impossible forthe strands of the twine te bece-me caught by the guard 51.

Turning new to Fig. l1, showing the twine holder 44, it will be notedthat face 62 is a continuous curve en one radius while the curve 63 isoffset en two radii to secure an easement in the tension when mestneeded.

I claim:

l. In a knetter disk assembly, the combination of a shaft, ya knetterdisk en said shaft having pockets formed around the circumferential edgethereof, said disk having a right angle ilange around the space betweensaid pockets and having formed therein just inside of said ange a narrowgroeve, one side ef which coincides with the inner side of said ange,and an arcuate twine guard titting into said narrow groeve and havingmeans for supporting same in a fixed position.

2. In a knetter disk assembly, the combination of a knetter disk and adisk flange having a common shaft mounting therefor and having a channelformed therebetween, a stationary twine cleaner having a blade eccupyinga portion of said channel, said knetter disk having a laterallyextending flange, both disk and ange having pockets formed in theircircumference, said knetter disk having a narrow groeve formed in itsface adjacent said lateral flange, and a stationary twine guard havingan arcuate blade extending into said narrow groove to prevent strands ofthe twine from becoming caught between said knetter disk and associatedparts.

3. In a twine knetter assembly, a disk having opposed face surfaces andhaving a plurality of peripheral notches for receiving twine, and aperipheral flange between said notches on said disk projecting beyondone of said face surfaces of said disk, said one face surface beingprevided with an annular groeve adjacent said flange for receiving guidemeans for said twine.

4. In a twine knetter assembly having bill hook means for tying a knot,a rotatable disk having notches in its peripheral edge for receivingtwine leading from said bill hook, said disk having opposed facesurfaces and having an annular groeve in one of said face surfaces, atwine guard engageable in said groove and adapted to guide twine intosaid notches, a twine holder engageable with said disk and adapted tocooperate therewith in holding twine in said notches when said bill hookis performing a knot typing operation, and a stripper plate forpositively removing said knot from said bill hook at the completion of aknot tying operation.

5. In a twine knetter assembly having bill hook mean-s for tying a knot,a rotatable disk having notches in its peripheral edge for receivingtwine leading from said bill hook and having a face groove adjacent itsperiphery, a twine guard having an angular blade portion extending intosaid groeve for guiding twine into said notches, a twine holderengageable with said disk and adapted to cooperate therewith in holdingtwine in said notches when said bill hoek is performing a knot tyingoperation, and a movable stripper plate having an arcuate notchconforming in shape to a rounded portion of said bill hook for slidablyengaging said bill hoek and positively removing said knot from said billhoek at the completion of a knot tying operation.

6. In a twine knetter assembly having bill hoek means for tying a knot,a rotatable disk having notches in its peripheral edge for receivingtwine leading from said bill hoek and having a face groove adjacent itsperiphery, a twine guard having an angular blade portion extending intosaid groeve for guiding twine inte said notches, a twine holderengageable with said disk and adapted to cooperate therewithin holdingtwine in said notches when said bill hook is performing a knot tyingoperation, a movable knife for cutting said twine after a knot has beenformed, and a stripper plate movable with said knife, said stripperplate having an arcuate notch conforming in shape to a rounded portionof said bill hook for slidably engaging said bill hoek and positivelyremoving said knot from said bill hoek.

7. In a twine knetter assembly, a disk having opposed face surfaces andhaving a plurality of peripheral notches for receiving twine, and aperipheral ange between said notches projecting beyond one of said facesurfaces of said disk, said one face surface being provided with anannular groove adjacent said ange for receiving guide means for saidtwine, the inner peripheral wall of said flange being ceextensive withthe outer wall of said groove.

8. In a twine knetter assembly, a disk having a plurality of peripheralnotches for receiving twine, and a peripheral flange between saidnotches projecting at right angles beyond one face of said disk, saiddisk having a face groove adjacent said ilange for receiving guide meansfor twine.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS274,870 Whiteley et al. Mar. 27, 1883 351,643 Mayberry Oct. 26, 1886378,815 Whiteley Feb. 28, 1888 427,844 Gabel May 13, 1890 744,153Appleby Nov. 17, 1903 755,748 Colahan Mar. 29, 1904 762,404 Hanson June14, 1904 1,169,989 Meere Feb. 1, 1916 1,272,711 Raney et al. July 16,1918 2,405,688 Crumb Aug. 13, 194-6 2,644,703 Rudeen Iuly 7, 19532,670,978 Rudeen Mar. 2, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 21,787 France Oct. 3, 192011,332 Netherlands Apr. 16, 1924

